difference between had gone and went

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

what is the difference between had gone and went ?

2

had gone - past perfect tense
went - simple past tense

Click here to see a table of usage and examples.

More information about the past perfect tense.
… and a quick overview

3

Yes, both are used often. For example the past perfect one is used in reported speech like this:

Mary: Hey I went to the mall yesterday
John: That’s cool!

Ann: Have you talked with Mary?
John: Yes! She said that she had gone to the mall yesterday

XD is kind of a silly example but is what i remember right now.

4

Hi,

Yes, that’s the kind of structure. It is a convention when changing direct to indirect speech to ‘describe’ periods of time rather than using the same time expression used in direct speech. This would then read: She said that she had gone to the mall the day before.

Alan

5

So, you wouldn’t say yesterday?.. And…
I wonder if I could keep the simple past in reported speech. I mean, the people would see that OK or it would be weird?

6

If you were reporting what Mary said on the same day that she said it, the simplest way would be:
“She said she went to the mall yesterday.”